Page 22 of An Enigma for the Lycan Crown Prince

Flora jumps inside and throws her hands up in the air. “Happy Birthday, Elden!”

“Flora?” I ask, surprised.

She twirls around me and grabs my hands. “We will have the best day ever, today! It’s your birthday. I planned it for days.”

I stare at her. “But…how did you know…”

“Did you think I’d forget!? That’s why I asked you for your plans, you big dummy!” She grabs my hand. “Come, Grandma and I prepared all your favorite dishes. Of course, we don’t know your favorites yet, so we just made everything. And I have a present for you!”

I forget about everything else. I forget that my father didn’t even bother checking in with me on my birthday, I forget that my mother took wolfsbane and threw herself out of a window in front of my eyes. I forget the anger, the resentment, the sadness.

I just follow Flora to her and Hazel’s cottage, my eyes widening when I see it beautifully decorated with balloons and a huge ‘Happy Birthday’ sign. Jace is already waiting for us and waves excitedly, while Beta Oliver helps Hazel carry some plates outside.

The beta smiles at me. “Are you surprised, young crown prince?”

“I am,” I admit.

“Wait till you know that everyone is coming,” Flora beams.

“What do you mean witheveryone?” I ask her curiously, just to be interrupted by footsteps coming closer. Some of the pack’s children are running towards us and waving. I can hear lots ofhappy birthdaysas I'm surrounded by everyone.

I never had a birthday party, not one like this. Not with other kids.

I guess that’s the good side of Dad not being here. At least I have no one to yell at me or hit me.

“Flora decided everyone should be invited,” Hazel says with a gentle smile. “Beta Oliver helped me with everything.”

“I can’t possibly accept this,” I mutter, as I watch the other kids putting their presents on the gift table and chatting excitedly.

“Of course, you can,” she says.

“You and Flora gave so much to me,” I tell her.

“As did you to Flora,” Hazel says. “This, here, wouldn’t have been possible just two months ago when she was still getting bullied by everyone.”

I turn my gaze towards Flora, watching how she sorts the parcels on my gift table, making sure no one steals them away. She waves at me and beams.

“Mom would have liked this too,” I admit, my anger from before vanished completely. I feel bad for having felt so angry with her.

“Carolina was a kind and gentle woman,” Hazel says, her eyes clouding over. “She was always looking out for others, and would have given everything she had to save whoever was in need.”

“Really?” I ask curiously.

“I knew her well,” Hazel tells me. “When she was younger, she was said to be the most beautiful young she-wolf in the country,” she chuckles. “And such a kind woman. Every young man was courting her.”

“And then Dad turned out to be her mate?” I ask.

Something in Hazel’s eyes seems to flash, but she soon smiles at me. I don’t want to bother her with questions, but I make sure to remember her reaction for a later point.

“Go now,” Hazel gently nudges me towards the other kids, “and have fun."

The birthday party Flora organized manages to raise my mood for a couple of days, then the euphoria passes. I’m not as sad as before, but I realize I’m not the same anymore. I’m not the same as before Mom died. It’s not as easy to pretend to be happy anymore, not that I ever truly was.

I slowly start going on playdates with Jace and Flora again, both of them happy for me finally coming out with them again.We even take the bikes sometimes, and take detours to the lake in the pack. Once, we also met at Jace’s pack and played there.

It’s a month after my birthday, when Beta Oliver tells me that we’ll soon be hosting high guests. Two elders of the council who will come here to help him lead the pack, but also to help me with my powers and with the prophecy.

“I wonder who they are?” Flora mutters, furrowing her brows.